Listen to Michael Schenker Group's Ronnie James Dio tribute song 'A King Has Gone'
It also honours 'Rainbow Rising'
Michael Schenker Group have premiered their Ronnie James Dio tribute song, ‘A King Has Gone.’
Lifted from Michael Schenker Group’s upcoming new studio album ‘Universal’, which lands on Friday 27th May via Atomic Fire Records, ‘A King Has Gone’ features powerhouse vocals from Helloween frontman Michael Kiske.
Alongside paying homage to Ronnie James Dio, ‘A King Has Gone’ namechecks Rainbow’s 1976 heavy metal magnum opus ‘Rising’, and it boasts drums and bass from former Rainbow members Bobby Rondinelli and Bob Daisley.
Michael Schenker additionally enlisted keyboardist Tony Carey, who also played on Rainbow Rising, for the terrific Moog synth intro ‘Calling Baal’ – a direct reference to the iconic intro of the 1976 album opener ‘Tarot Woman.’
Listen to Michael Schenker Group’s ‘A King Has Gone’:
Featuring 11 tracks, Michael Schenker Group’s ‘Universal’ album is available on Digipak CD (incl. 2 bonus tracks), coloured vinyl, Earbook (CD incl. 2 bonus tracks) and digital formats.
Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Vandenberg) is the main vocalist on the record, and other performers include Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), keyboard player Steve Mann (Lionheart), drummers Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who), Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Foreigner), and Bodo Schopf (Eloy), as well as bassists Barry Sparks (Malmsteen, Dokken) and Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian, Zakk Wylde), with Tony Carey as a very special guest.
Michael Schenker Group’s ‘Universal’ track-listing:
1) Emergency
2) Under Attack
3) Calling Baal
4) A King Has Gone
5) The Universe
6) Long Long Road
7) Wrecking Ball
8) Yesterday Is Dead
9) London Calling
10) Sad Is The Song
11) Au Revoir
Michael Schenker Group play three UK shows this summer at Steelhouse Festival on Sunday 31st July, Glasgow Queen Margaret Union on Friday 26th August and Stonedead Festival on Saturday 27th August.
Alongside lynchpin Michael Schenker, the line-up at the UK concerts will feature Ronnie Romero (vocals), Steve Mann (guitar/keyboards), Bodo Schopf (drums) and Barend Courbois (bass).